Govt most likely used loan from China to buy Lungu luxury jet

Editor,
The purchase of the G5 Gulf stream executive jet is just a tip of the iceberg. The PF has embarked on a massive rearmament program ever since they came to power. Just this year alone Zambia Air Force will spend over 200 million U.S. dollars on combat aircraft. So far Six L-15 Falcon Jet Fighter Aircarft have been purchased from China at an estimated total cost of 90 million U.S. dollars (15 million U.S. dollars per unit). When you add the cost of delivery, logistical support, servicing and training of pilots, the cost even goes above $100 million. The L-15 is a fourth generation fighter aircraft manufactured by a Chinese aeronautics company called Hongdu Aviation Industry corporation Ltd (HAIG).

In addition, ZAF has ordered two C-27J Spartan Tactical troop carriers and cargo transport aircraft from an Italian company called Alenia Aermacchi. Defence analysts estimate the deal to be worth 120 million U.S. dollars inclusive of supply, delivery, logistical support, servicing and training of pilots. According to wikipedia, one C-27J Spartan costed 54 million dollars as of 2012. Only a handful of countries, mostly rich ones, have acquired the C-27J Spartan owing to its high purchase cost. These include the Air forces of the the United States, Britain, Italy, Australia, Germany, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Morrocco.
In 2012, the United States Air Force (USAF) decided to cancel it’s order of more Spartans due to budget cuts; the few that had been purchased were reassigned to the U.S. Coast Guard and United States Special Operations Command.

Here is the big question, is it morally right for PF to be spending such ridiculous amounts of money on combat aircraft in a highly impoverished country when we are not at war?
If you remember early this year The Post had reported that government had secretly acquired a loan of 196 million U.S. dollars from China for security equipment. In its defence, The PF govt said they could not disclose details on the loan for security reasons. This is probably the same money that was paid to the Chinese company for the Supply of the 6 Jet fighters.